Rubber-dam clamp



April 7, 1925. 1,532,821

J. W. IVORY RUBBER DAM CLAMP.

Fil d May 14. 1924 W- W' fi INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS it Apr. 7, 15.225.

rarer rice."

JAMES W. IVORY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA;

RUBBER-DAM CLAIRE.

Application filed May 14,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. Ivonr, a citizen'of the United States, residing Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, tat'e of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rubber-Dam Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clamping devices, and more particularly to rubber dam clamps, for use in dental and like operations, which are provided with means for positively securing the rubber dam to the clamp, while the latter is adjusted to the tooth, so that the dam will be prevented from unintended slipping from the clamp when adjusted thereon, but will retain the desired position until it is removed from the clamp.

It thas been found that inclamps of this character, in the prior art, there has been a tendency of the rubber dam to slip upwardly from its position of placement on the clamp, and I have so constructed my present clamp to overcome this diiiiculty. One of the objects of my invention is to provide means in a clamp of this character which will permit it to be readily adjustable to and removed from a tooth, and which will provide means for securely and positively retaining the dam in the desired position and adjusting it in relation to the tooth during the operation and during the adjustment of the clamp to the tooth.

My invention consists in the particular combination, or organization and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in this specification and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawing forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and re iable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my in vention is notlimited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamp embodying my invention. 7

Figure 2 isa perspective view of a clamp. embodying a modified form of my invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clamp 192 Serial No. 713,130.

embodying another modified form of my invention.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view on line 4 t, Figure 2, showing the embodiment of one form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view on vline 5+5, of Figure 1, showing the embodiment of another form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional View, on line 66, of Figure 3, showing the embodiment of another form of my invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another modified form of my invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another modified form of my invention, similar to the embodiment in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective viewof another modified form of my invention, showing means to more positively retain the rubber dam in position on the lateral flanges in addition to the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of another modified form of my invention, similar to that shown in Figure3 illustrating the restraining arms shortened.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of another modified form of my invention showing the lateral res-training flanges red'ucedin curvature and length.

Figure 12 is an embodiment of my inven tion having a rubber dam applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings:-

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

1 is a rubber dam clamp, formed of the jaws 2, the connecting bow spring 3 the lateral flanges 4: on the outerside of the aws 2, and the apertures 5, for the engagement therewith of forceps, to spread apart the jaws 2 of the clamp, which instruments are well known in the art,

In the outerside edges of the jaws 2 and flanges a, near the projecting arms 6, which are located at the outer terminals of thejaws 2, are the recesses 7 the walls of which form the shoulders 8.

In the outerside edges of the jaws 2 and the flanges adjacent the bow 3, are the re cesses 9 (Figure 7) the walls of which form the shoulder 10. The respective recesses 9, extend substantially convergingly radially inwardly, and are preferably formed rounded at their inner ends.

In the embodiment of my invention herewith presented, special attention is directed to the formation, curvature and shape of the lateral flanges at, the function of which is to carry and retain in its desired operative position of placement, the rubber dam (shown in Figure 12 but which is no part of my invention); It is desired to provide these means of such shape and character, that: the rubber dam will be firmly held. from; slipping, will be retained, when desired in the proper position in relation to the clamp and the tooth around which it is placed and will also prevent unnecessary tearing and cutting of the rubber dam by rough or sharp edges of teeth with which it may come in contact.

I accomplish this by providing my improved clamp with lateral flanges 4c having a particular form, construction and curvature and by positioningrthe projecting arms 6 in suitable relation theret As will be seen from an inspection of the 7 various iigureso't the drawings, the flanges deutend'it'rom either side of the jaws 2, dip toward the gum line and diverge angularly from each other. These arms are concave-d or hooked on their outer face or outline, while on their inner face or outline they terminate with a convex curve over and away from the gum tissue. This formation of the flanges with the bulging curves, pro vides an efficient, simple and positive anchorage tor the rubber dam when applied and adjusted thereon andwith the project ing arms 6, lirmly holds the dam in the dc sired position, while at the same time permittingits ready removal when desired. The flange portion 1 of the faces 2 provided with elongated apertures or slots 11 for the a 3 alication therein of an instrument, when it is desired to strip the dam from the clamp Although the preferred term o't'embodiment of my invention, having the curved shape above described, is shown in Figure l, and Figure 5, yet I have illustrated in other figures of the drawings some modification thereof.

In Figure 2 andFigure t is shown a modilication, having flange with a top curved portion 12, a substantially straight, angularly disposed, intermediate portion 13, which terminates in an upwardly deflected outer terminal portion or lip 14, laterally extending therefrom. lVhen. thedam is applied to this form of clamp it is carried on the intern'iediate portion 18 and is prevents ed from accidental downward displacement by the terminal portion. 14, while the arms 6 and the curved top portion 12 prevent the dam from uneesired upward displacement.

In Figure 3 and Figure 6 is. shown another modification, in which the flanges 4 dip downwardly in a curved formation, from the plane ofthe body portion of the jaws 2 and diverge laterally" from' each other, terminating in an upwardly curved portion l'iaying its outer face or outline conoaved as at 15. lVhen the rubber dam is ap plied to this modified form of clamp, it is held against downward-displacement bythe curved portion 15 ot' the flanges and against upward displacement by the shoulder 16 and the arms 6. I

In Figure Tisshown another modification in which the flanges 4 are formed with a slightly projecting tongue 17., adjacent the arms 0 and theends oi" the jaws 2 opposite therefrom are cut away adjacent the bow spring so as to form projecting portions orstops 18. These tongues 1? and. stops 18,

engage the rubber dam, when it is applied to the flanges 4t, and thereby with the arms 6, hold it against any tending to ride up wardly on the flanges 4: and be displaced from its-desired operative. position.

In Figure 8 is shown another modification, in which the curvature of the upper part of the flange l is substantially; that shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5, it being above the nlane oi; the body port'on of the jaws 2, while the lower part otthe flange 4t is substantially that shown in Figure 3 and Figure 6.

In Figure 9 is shown another modification, in which the shape of the flange 4. is substantiall that shown in Figure and F ig are t, having in addition tongues 19", formed on eithcrend ot'each flange. These tongues 19 are adapted to engage the rubber dam when it is applied to the flange l, and with the arms 6,. thereby restrain it against any undesired ipward displacement from its operative positionon' the clamp.

In Figure 10 is shown another modiflca tion, substantially similar to that shown in Figure land Figure 5, but having the arms 6 of somewhat reduced length.

In Figure 11' is shown another modification, substantially similar to that shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5, but having the flange i 4 ot'somewhat reduced length andits angle of disposition, relative to the: jaws 2, more acute than-shown in the figures herein above referred to.

The operation of my device is as follows An opening is, made in a sheet of rubber dam. This opening is distended and the flanges 4; of the clamp are. inserted thereon, with the arms 6 positioned above the rubber dam, as shown in Figure 12 of the drawings.

Suitable forceps are then insert-ed in the openings 5 andthejaws of the clamp are spread apart, carrying with them the rubber dam mounted on the flanges 4. The jaws .may be. placed in position over a tooth and when released. from. the forceps will engage the body o-tthe' tooth and by the pressure exerted by the bow spring 3, the clamp and rubberdamwcarriedtliereon; will be seecurely held in the desired position. The clamp may be removed from the tooth by the reinsertion of the forceps into the openings 5 and spreading the jaws 2 apart, until'they are out of engagement with the tooth body. It may then be readily removed.

Because I have formed the face of the flange 4 in a concave curve, in one portion. and a convex curve in an adjacent portion, the rubber dam, when mounted thereon, is securely held taut at its extreme edge. And further owing to its elasticity it will so stretch, when the clamp is spread, that it will permit this extreme thin edge to more readily pass between contiguous teeth, while at the same time, because of the concaved and convexed form of the flange 4;, the rubber dam is prevented from sliding or being otherwise accidentally displaced from the desired position on the flanges 4.

From the above description, it will be obvious how the projecting tongues 17 and stops 18 in the embodiment of my device shown in Figure 7, and the tongues 19 in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, engage the rubber dam, when it is mounted upon the anges 4, substantially as shown in Figure 12, and thereby more positively hold it against upward movement on the flanges 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient device, which overcomes the defects existing in devices of. this character in the prior art.

While I have thus specifically described my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, except as the state of the art and the appended claims may require, for it is obvious that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

I. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow spring, each jaw having dam-holding means of a curvilinear formation, convex at its inner end, and having an outer upwardly deflected terminal.

2. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow spring, each jaw having dam-holding means of a curvilinear formation, concave at its outer free end and convex at its opposite end;

3. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow spring, each having dam-holding means of a curvilinear format-ion formed integral therewith, concave on the outer face of its outer free end and convex on the outer surface of its upper end.

4. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow.

spring, each jaw having laterally disposed dam-holding means of a curvilinear formation, concave on the outer face of its outer lower end and convex on the outer face of its opposite end.

5. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow spring, each jaw having an angularly depending, laterally disposed, dam-holding rib of a curvilinear formation, concave on the outer face of its lower end and convex on the outer face of its upper end.

6. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow spring, each jaw having a laterally disposed dam-holding rib of a curvilinear formation,

concave at its lower end and convex at its upper end and a laterally disposed arm adjacent one extremity of said dam-holding means.

7. In a rubber dam clamp, tooth engaging and clamping jaws, connected by a bow spring, each jaw having laterally disposed dam-holding rib, convex at its upper inner portion and having its lower outer terminal deflected upwardly and dam engaging tongues projecting from the end walls of said convex portions.

JAMES W. IVORY. 

